Distributed antenna system architectures

ABSTRACT

Optical fiber-based wireless systems and related components and methods are disclosed. The systems support radio frequency (RF) communications with clients over optical fiber, including Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) communications. The systems may be provided as part of an indoor distributed antenna system (IDAS) to provide wireless communication services to clients inside a building or other facility. The systems incorporate various functions, such as optical network terminal (ONT), splitter, and local powering, in antenna coverage areas.

PRIORITY APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to co-pendingU.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/518,574, filed on Oct. 20, 2014,which is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US13/37090,filed on Apr. 18, 2013, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/638,219, filed on Apr. 25, 2012, whereare hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Disclosure

The technology of the disclosure relates to distributed antenna systemsand alternative powering and connectivity architectures therefor.

Technical Background

Wireless communication is rapidly growing, with increasing demands forhigh-speed mobile data communication. “Wireless fidelity” or “WiFi”systems and wireless local area networks (WLANs) are being deployed inmany different types of areas to communicate with wireless devicescalled “clients,” “client devices,” or “wireless client devices.”Distributed antenna systems are particularly useful when deployed insidebuildings or other indoor environments where client devices may nototherwise be able to receive radio frequency (RF) signals from a source.

One approach to deploying a distributed communications system involvesthe use of RF antenna coverage areas, or “antenna coverage areas.”Antenna coverage areas can have a relatively short range from a fewmeters up to twenty meters. Combining a number of access point devicescreates an array of antenna coverage areas. Because the antenna coverageareas each cover small areas, there are typically only a few users perantenna coverage area. This minimizes the amount of bandwidth sharedamong users.

One type of distributed communications system for creating antennacoverage areas, called “Radio-over-Fiber” or “RoF,” utilizes RF signalssent over optical fibers. Such systems can include a head-end stationoptically coupled to multiple remote antenna units that each provideantenna coverage areas. The remote antenna units each include RFtransceivers coupled to an antenna to transmit RF signals wirelessly,wherein the remote antenna units are coupled to the head-end station viaoptical fiber links.

It may be desired to provide such optical fiber-based distributedcommunications systems indoors, such as inside a building or otherfacility, to provide indoor wireless communication for clients. In suchcases, power for the remote antenna units on each floor is oftenprovided from an intermediate distribution frame (IDF) at each floor.Because the remote antenna units may be located at long distances fromthe IDF, power must be also conveyed over long distances from the IDF tothe antenna units. Long power transmission distances lead to highvoltage drops, which increases the power requirements for the IDF, aswell as the voltage ratings for the transmission cables.

SUMMARY OF THE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a wireless communicationsystem comprising a head end unit and at least one remote at least oneremote unit coupled to the head end unit by an optical communicationpath. The remote unit comprises at least one antenna system, eachantenna system being capable of transmitting radio frequency (RF)signals into a coverage area, and an optical network terminal (ONT)component. The ONT component is capable of terminating one or moreoptical fibers and demultiplexing optical signals into component parts.According to one aspect, the remote unit can be coupled to a powersource within the coverage area so that power need not be conveyed overlong distances to the remote unit.

An additional embodiment of the disclosure relates to a wirelesscommunication system comprising a head end unit, at least one remoteunit coupled to the head end unit by an optical communication path, andat least one ONT optically coupled and electrically coupled to the atleast one remote unit. The remote unit comprises a plurality of antennasystems, each antenna system being capable of transmitting RF signalsinto a coverage area, and a splitter component with at least one inputfiber and a plurality of output fibers. The splitter component iscapable of routing optical RF data transmissions to the antenna systems.

Yet another embodiment relates to a wireless communication systemcomprising a head end unit and at least one remote unit coupled to thehead end unit by a remote unit optical communication path. The at leastone remote unit comprises at least one antenna system capable oftransmitting RF signals into a coverage area. The system furthercomprises at least one ONT optically coupled to the head end unit by anONT optical communication path, and electrically coupled to acorresponding remote unit. The optical communication paths comprise asplitter component with at least one input fiber and a plurality ofoutput fibers, the splitter component being capable of routing opticalRF data transmissions to the at least one remote unit.

Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detaileddescription which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art from the description or recognized by practicing theembodiments as described in the written description and claims hereof,as well as the appended drawings.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are merely exemplary, and areintended to provide an overview or framework to understand the natureand character of the claims.

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of thisspecification. The drawings illustrate one or more embodiment(s), andtogether with the description serve to explain principles and operationof the various embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

According to common practice, the various features of the drawingsdiscussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. Dimensions ofvarious features and elements in the drawings may be expanded or reducedto more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary optical fiber-basedwireless infrastructure.

FIG. 2 is a more detailed schematic diagram of exemplary head endequipment and a remote antenna unit (RAU) that can be deployed in thewireless infrastructure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partially schematic cut-away diagram of an exemplarybuilding infrastructure in which the wireless infrastructure in FIG. 1can be employed.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary optical fiber-basedwireless infrastructure in which antenna unit and ONT functionalitiesare collocated.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary optical fiber-basedwireless infrastructure in which the antenna unit and splitterfunctionalities are collocated.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary optical fiber-basedwireless infrastructure in which ONT and antenna functionalities arelocated proximate to one another and the antenna is powered from theONT.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present embodiments combine various cable and hardwareinfrastructures to address requirements of distributed antenna systems(DAS), fiber-to-the-home (FTTH), multiple dwelling units (MDU), andpassive optical LAN (POL). Alternative powering concepts are disclosed,such as using multiple POL or FTTH terminal locations (wall outlet,optical network terminal “ONT”, etc.) to provide distributed powersources. The disclosed embodiments combine selected DAS cabling andhardware infrastructures with FTTH, MDU, and POL infrastructures. Thisarrangement can be used to reduce cost and complexity while eliminatingthe need for parallel cabling and hardware solutions.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an optical fiber-baseddistributed antenna system, or “DAS”. In this embodiment, the system isan optical fiber-based DAS 10 that is configured to create antennacoverage areas for establishing communications with wireless clientdevices located in the antenna coverage areas. The optical fiber-basedDAS 10 provides RF communications services (e.g., cellular services).The DAS 10 includes head end equipment in the form of a head-end unit(HEU) 12, one or more remote antenna units (RAUs) 14, and an opticalfiber 16 that optically couples the HEU 12 to the RAU 14. The HEU 12 isconfigured to receive communications over downlink electrical RFcommunications signals 18D from sources, such as a network or carrier,and provide such communications to the RAU 14. The HEU 12 is alsoconfigured to return communications received from the RAU 14, via uplinkelectrical RF communications signals 18U, back to the source or sources.The optical fiber 16 includes at least one downlink optical fiber 16D tocarry signals communicated from the HEU 12 to the RAU 14 and at leastone uplink optical fiber 16U to carry signals communicated from the RAU14 back to the HEU 12. One downlink optical fiber 16D and one uplinkoptical fiber 16U could be provided to support multiple channels eachusing wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM), as discussed in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/892,424.

The antenna coverage area or service area 20 of the RAU 14 forms an RFcoverage area 21 substantially centered about the RAU 14. The HEU 12 isadapted to perform a number of wireless applications, including but notlimited to Radio-over-Fiber (RoF), radio frequency identification(RFID), wireless local-area network (WLAN) communication, public safety,cellular, telemetry, and other mobile or fixed services. Shown withinthe antenna service area 20 is a client device 24 in the form of amobile device which may be a cellular telephone. The client device 24can be any device that is capable of receiving RF communication signals.The client device 24 includes an antenna 26 (e.g., a wireless card)adapted to receive and/or send electromagnetic RF communicationssignals.

With continuing reference to FIG. 1, to communicate the electrical RFcommunications signals over the downlink optical fiber 16D to the RAU14, to in turn be communicated to the client device 24 in the antennacoverage area 20, the HEU 12 includes an electrical-to-optical (E/O)converter 28. The E/O converter 28 converts the downlink electrical RFcommunications signals 18D to downlink optical RF communications signals22D to be communicated over the downlink optical fiber 16D. The RAU 14includes an optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter 30 to convert receiveddownlink optical RF communications signals 22D back to electrical RFcommunications signals to be communicated wirelessly through an antenna32 of the RAU 14 to client devices 24 in the coverage area 20.Similarly, the antenna 32 receives wireless RF communications fromclient devices 24 and communicates electrical RF communications signalsrepresenting the wireless RF communications to an E/O converter 34 inthe RAU 14. The E/O converter 34 converts the electrical RFcommunications signals into uplink optical RF communications signals 22Uto be communicated over the uplink optical fiber 16U. An O/E converter36 provided in the HEU 12 converts the uplink optical RF communicationssignals 22U into uplink electrical RF communications signals, which canthen be communicated as uplink electrical RF communications signals 18Uback to a network or other source.

FIG. 2 is a more detailed schematic diagram of the DAS 10 of FIG. 1. Inthis embodiment, the HEU 12 includes a service unit 37 that provideselectrical RF service signals by passing such signals from one or moreoutside networks 38 via a network link 39. In another embodiment, theservice unit 37 provides electrical RF service signals by generating thesignals directly. In another exemplary embodiment, the service unit 37coordinates the delivery of the electrical RF service signals betweenclient devices 24 within the antenna coverage area 20. The service unit37 is electrically coupled to the E/O converter 28 that receives thedownlink electrical RF communications signals 18D from the service unit37 and converts them to corresponding downlink optical RF communicationssignals 22D.

The HEU 12 also includes the O/E converter 36, which is electricallycoupled to the service unit 37. The O/E converter 36 receives the uplinkoptical RF communications signals 22U and converts them to correspondinguplink electrical RF communications signals 18U. The service unit 37 inthe HEU 12 can include an RF communications signal conditioner unit 40for conditioning the downlink electrical RF communications signals 18Dand the uplink electrical RF communications signals 18U, respectively.The service unit 37 can include a digital signal processing unit(“digital signal processor” or “DSP”) 42 for providing to the RFcommunications signal conditioner unit 40 an electrical signal that ismodulated onto an RF carrier to generate a desired downlink electricalRF communications signal 18D. The DSP 42 is also configured to process ademodulation signal provided by the demodulation of the uplinkelectrical RF communications signal 18U by the RF communications signalconditioner unit 40. The service unit 37 in the HEU 12 can also includea central processing unit (CPU) 44 for processing data and otherwiseperforming logic and computing operations, and a memory unit 46 forstoring data. The RAU 14 also includes a converter pair 48 comprisingthe O/E converter 30 and the E/O converter 34. The O/E converter 30converts the received downlink optical RF communications signals 22Dfrom the HEU 12 back into downlink electrical RF communications signals50D. The E/O converter 34 converts uplink electrical RF communicationssignals 50U received from the client device 24 into the uplink opticalRF communications signals 22U to be communicated to the HEU 12. The O/Econverter 30 and the E/O converter 34 are electrically coupled to theantenna 32 via an RF signal-directing element 52, such as a circulator.The RF signal-directing element 52 directs the downlink electrical RFcommunications signals 50D and the uplink electrical RF communicationssignals 50U.

With continuing reference to FIG. 2, the DAS 10 also includes a powersupply 54 that generates an electrical power signal 56. The power supply54 is electrically coupled to the HEU 12 for powering thepower-consuming elements therein. In an exemplary embodiment, anelectrical power line 58 runs through the HEU 12 and over to the RAU 14to power the O/E converter 30 and the E/O converter 34 in the converterpair 48, the optional RF signal-directing element 52 (unless the RFsignal-directing element 52 is a passive device), and any otherpower-consuming elements provided. The electrical power line 58 caninclude two wires 60 and 62 that carry a single voltage and that areelectrically coupled to a DC power converter 64 at the RAU 14. The DCpower converter 64 is electrically coupled to the O/E converter 30 andthe E/O converter 34 in the converter pair 48, and changes the voltageor levels of the electrical power signal 56 to the power level(s)required by the power-consuming components in the RAU 14.

FIG. 3 is a partially schematic cut-away diagram of a buildinginfrastructure 70 employing an optical fiber-based DAS. The DAS 10incorporates the HEU 12 to provide various types of communicationservices to coverage areas within the building infrastructure 70. TheDAS 10 is configured to receive wireless RF communications signals andconvert the signals into RoF signals to be communicated over the opticalfiber 16 to multiple RAUs 14 to provide wireless services inside thebuilding infrastructure 70. The building infrastructure 70 includes afirst (ground) floor 72, a second floor 74, and a third floor 76. Thefloors 72, 74, 76 are serviced by the HEU 12 through a main distributionframe 78 to provide antenna coverage areas 80 in the buildinginfrastructure 70. A main cable 82 has a number of different sectionsthat facilitate the placement of a large number of RAUs 14 in thebuilding infrastructure 70. Each RAU 14 in turn services its owncoverage area in the antenna coverage areas 80. The main cable 82 caninclude, for example, a riser cable 84 that carries all of the downlinkand uplink optical fibers 16D, 16U to and from the HEU 12. The risercable 84 may be routed through an interconnect unit (ICU) 85. The ICU 85may be provided as part of or separate from the power supply 54 in FIG.2. The ICU 85 may also provide power to the RAUs 14 via the electricalpower line 58 (FIG. 2) and provided inside an array cable 87.

An RF source such as a base transceiver station (BTS) 88, which may beprovided by a second party such as a cellular service provider, isconnected to the HEU 12. A BTS is any station or source that provides aninput signal to the HEU 12 and can receive a return signal from the HEU12. In a typical cellular system, for example, a plurality of BTSs aredeployed at a plurality of remote locations to provide wirelesstelephone coverage. Each BTS serves a corresponding cell and when amobile station enters the cell, the BTS communicates with the mobilestation. The DAS 10 in FIGS. 1-3 provides point-to-point communicationsbetween the HEU 12 and the RAU 14. Each RAU 14 communicates with the HEU12 over a distinct downlink and uplink optical fiber pair to provide thepoint-to-point communications. Multiple downlink and uplink opticalfiber pairs can be provided in a fiber optic cable to service multipleRAUs 14 from a common fiber optic cable. The DAS can support a widevariety of radio sources, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), US Cellular(CELL), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Code DivisionMultiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), AdvancedWireless Services (AWS), iDEN (e.g., 800 MegaHertz (MHz), 900 MHz, and1.5 GHz), etc. These radios sources can range from 400 MHz to 2700 MHzas an example.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a generalized embodiment of wirelesssystem, in the form of an optical fiber-based distributed antenna system110. In this embodiment, the optical fiber-based wireless system 110 isconfigured to create one or more coverage areas in a buildinginfrastructure. The building infrastructure comprises multiple stories,including a first floor 112, which can be, for example, a ground orbasement floor, a second floor 114, and N additional floors (notillustrated). According to one aspect, remote antenna unit (RAU) andoptical network terminal (ONT) functionalities are collocated at aremote unit. According to another aspect, power for the remote unit canbe provided ‘locally’, such as at the coverage area of the remote unit.

The components and operation of the system 110 in providing RFcommunications and data services can otherwise be generally similar tothe embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3. For example, the optical fiber-basedwireless system 110 includes a head-end unit (HEU) 120 adapted toperform or to facilitate any one of a number of RoF applications, suchas radio frequency (RF) identification (RFID), wireless local-areanetwork (WLAN) communication, cellular phone services, etc., as in theHEU 12 illustrated in FIG. 3. The HEU 120 can be connected to one ormore RF sources 122, such as a base transceiver station (BTS) through aninterface, integral with a BTS, or otherwise in communication with aBTS, to receive downlink electrical RF signals from the BTS 122 and totransmit RF signals to the BTS 122.

The HEU 120 can also be connected to an optical line terminal 126 (OLT),and a switch 128, such as an Ethernet switch, to provide additionalservices to the building infrastructure. The HEU 120 is connected to asplitter 130 by a cable 135 and a patch panel 137. The cable 135 can be,for example, a riser cable having one or more optical fibers. Accordingto one aspect of the present embodiment, the splitter 130 is connectedto a plurality of ONT/remote antenna units (“ONT/RAU”), or simply,‘remote units’ 150 by cables 155. The splitter 130 has least one inputfiber and a plurality of output fibers, and is capable of routingoptical RF data transmissions based on at least one of signal wavelengthand polarization. The cables 135, 155 can be, for example, opticalcables having one or more optical fibers. The cables 135, 155 cangenerally be referred to as ‘optical communication paths’, and thecables 135, 155, as well as the splitter 130, form optical communicationpaths 160 from the HEU 120 to the remote units 150. Additionaltransmission media, such as sections of optical cable, can be includedin the optical transmission paths 160. A continuous fiber communicationpath may therefore extend from the each remote unit 150, through thesplitter 130, back to the patch panel 137, and to the OLT 126 and theHEU 120.

The remote units 150 each include an uplink/downlink antenna system 170connected by cable 172, which can be, for example, an electricallyconductive coaxial cable. The antenna systems 170 provideuplink/downlink for RF communication, data, etc. service signals in acoverage area 180. The remote units 150 can include the components andfunctionalities of the RAUs 14 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, For example,the remote units 150 may include an optical-to-electrical (O/E)converter to convert received downlink optical RF communications signalsto electrical RF communications signals to be communicated wirelesslythrough the antenna system 170 to client devices in its coverage area.Similarly, the antenna system 170 receives wireless RF communicationsfrom client devices and communicates electrical RF communicationssignals representing the wireless RF communications to an E/O converterin the remote units 150. The E/O converter converts the electrical RFcommunications signals into uplink optical RF communications signals tobe communicated to an O/E converter provided in the HEU 120 for furthertransmission by the HEU. The remote units 150 also include an ONTcomponent effective to terminate one or more fiber optic lines,demultiplex optical signals into their component parts (e.g., voicetelephone, television, and Internet), and to provide electrical power.

In the illustrated embodiment, each coverage area or service area 180can coincide with, for example, an individual living unit in a multipledwelling unit (MDU), or some other delineation between spaces in abuilding infrastructure, such as an office. At the remote units 150, thefunctionalities and hardware of a remote antenna unit and the ONT may becollocated and/or combined into a single chassis. Power for both the RAUand ONT components in the remote unit 150 can be provided at the desk(e.g., POL level) or living unit level (e.g., FTTH MDU), within theindividual living unit, or other location where a network device isterminated and has power available. Power thus need not be provided ateach floor in a wiring closet, IDF, etc., and conveyed over long lengthsof cable resulting in electrical losses. Power is instead transmittedover electrically conductive network cables over relatively shortdistances. The remote unit 150 can be located, for example, such that itcan be connected to a wall outlet in the living unit of an MDU, suchthat power for a remote unit 150 may be delivered from the coverage areaof the remote unit.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of another embodiment of a wireless system,in the form of an optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 210.The building infrastructure comprises multiple stories, including afirst floor 112, which can be a ground or basement floor, a second floor114, and N additional floors (not illustrated). According to one aspect,remote antenna unit (RAU) and splitter functionalities are collocated,such as combined in a single chassis, frame and/or platform. Accordingto another aspect, power for the remote unit can be provided locally,such as at a coverage area of the remote unit, or in one or more of thecoverage areas of the remote unit.

The components and operation of the system 210 in providing RFcommunications and data services can otherwise be generally similar tothe embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3. For example, the optical fiber-basedwireless system 210 includes an HEU 220 adapted to perform or tofacilitate any one of a number of RoF applications, such as RFID, WLANcommunication, cellular phone services, etc., as in the HEU 12illustrated in FIG. 3. The HEU 220 can be connected to one or more RFsources 222, such as a BTS through an interface, integral with a BTS, orotherwise in communication with a BTS, to receive downlink electrical RFsignals from the BTS 222 and to transmit RF signals to the BTS 222. TheHEU 220 can also be connected to an OLT 226, and a switch 228, such asan Ethernet switch, to provide additional services to the buildinginfrastructure.

The HEU 220 is connected to a remote antenna/splitter unit 230, orsimply ‘remote unit’ 230, by a cable 235 and a patch panel 237. Thecable 235 can be, for example, an optical transmission path comprising acable or cables having one or more optical fibers suited for riserand/or horizontal (e.g. duct) deployments. In the illustratedembodiment, the cable 235 extends in sections vertically through thebuilding as well as horizontally, and may be comprised of multiplesections joined, for example, at an interconnect unit (not illustrated).

According to one aspect of the present embodiment, the remoteantenna/splitter unit, or remote unit 230 is connected to a first ONT242 by a fiber path 247 and by an electrical path 249. The fiber path247 can comprise, for example, a fiber optic cable with one or moreoptical fibers for transporting data. The electrical path 249 cancomprise one or more electrical conductors for providing data and/orelectrical power to the antenna/splitter unit 230. The fiber path 247and the electrical path 249 can be combined, for example in a single,composite optical fiber/electrical cable having one or more optical andelectrical conductors. The remote unit 230 can also be connected to asecond ONT 244 by a fiber optic communication path 257. A continuousfiber communication path may therefore extend from the ONT 244, throughthe remote unit 230, back to the patch panel 237, and to the OLT 226 andthe HEU 220. Similarly, a continuous fiber optical communication pathmay extend from the ONT 242, through the remote unit 230, back to thepatch panel 237, and to the OLT 226 and the HEU 220.

The remote antenna/splitter unit 230 includes one or moreuplink/downlink antenna systems 270 connected by cable 272, which canbe, for example, an electrically conductive coaxial cable. Each antennasystem 270 provides uplink/downlink for RF communicating service signalsinto a respective coverage area 280. The remote units 230 may include anoptical-to-electrical (O/E) converter to convert received downlinkoptical RF communications signals to electrical RF communicationssignals to be communicated wirelessly through two or more antennasystems 270 to client devices in the respective coverage areas of theantenna systems. Similarly, each antenna system 270 receives wireless RFcommunications from client devices in its coverage area and communicateselectrical RF communications signals representing the wireless RFcommunications to an E/O converter in the remote unit 230. The E/Oconverter converts the electrical RF communications signals into uplinkoptical RF communications signals to be communicated to an O/E converterprovided in the HEU 220 for further transmission by the HEU. Because theremote unit 230 includes multiple antenna systems 270, it may includeadditional processing capabilities, converters etc., to accommodate theadditional data and/or RF communications into multiple coverage areas.

The remote antenna/splitter unit 230 also includes at least one splittercomponent (not illustrated). The splitter component has least one inputfiber and a plurality of output fibers, and is capable of routingoptical RF data transmissions based on at least one of signal wavelengthand polarization. Optical data signals entering an input fiber can betransmitted through one or more of the output fibers. Accordingly, theremote unit 230 can route RF and/or data transmissions (based onwavelength, polarization, or other factors) to the ONTs 242, 244, aswell as multiple antenna systems 270, to provide service to multiplecoverage areas 280 in multiple living units. In the illustratedembodiment, the exemplary remote unit 230 routes RF and/or datatransmissions to two antenna systems 270, although three, four, or moreantenna systems 270 can be provided with transmissions from the remoteunit 230.

The combined antenna/splitter chassis consolidates the splitter functionand antenna functions at a single location. Accordingly, a singlechassis, frame, or platform can be used to provide opticalcommunications to the ONTs, and to provide RF signals for transmissionto multiple antenna systems 270 in separate living units. In addition,the remote unit 230 can be located in the infrastructure where the powerfor the remote unit 230 can be provided from the ONT 242, oralternatively, from the ONT 244. The coverage areas 280 illustrated inFIG. 5 can be, for example, coverage areas corresponding to adjacentliving or work spaces, such as in an MDU or office. Accordingly, antennasystems 270, as well as ONTs 242, 244, can be located in adjacentcoverage areas and connected to a common remote unit 230.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of yet another generalized embodiment ofwireless system, in the form of an optical fiber-based distributedantenna system 310. In this embodiment, the optical fiber-based wirelesssystem 310 is configured to create one or more coverage areas in abuilding infrastructure. According to one aspect, a power cable may berun from an ONT to a nearby remote unit, thus eliminating the need for acomposite cable and an interconnect unit (ICU) to inject electricalpower for remote units on each floor. The components and operation ofthe system 310 in providing RF communications and data services canotherwise be generally similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3. TheHEU 320 can be connected to one or more RF sources 322, such as a basetransceiver station (BTS) through an interface, integral with a BTS, orotherwise in communication with a BTS, to receive downlink electrical RFsignals from the BTS 322 and to transmit RF signals to the BTS 322.

The HEU 120 can also be connected to an OLT 326, and a switch 328, suchas an Ethernet switch, to provide additional services to the buildinginfrastructure. The HEU 320 is connected to a splitter/fiberdistribution component 330 by a cable 335 and a patch panel 337. Thecable 335 can be, for example, a riser cable having one or more opticalfibers. According to one aspect of the present embodiment, thesplitter/fiber distribution component 330 is connected to a plurality ofremote antenna units, or simply, ‘remote units’ 340 by cables 352. Thecables 352 can be, for example, optical cables having one or moreoptical fibers. The cables 335, 352 can generally be referred to as‘optical communication paths’, and the cables 335, 352, as well as thesplitter/fiber distribution component 330, form optical communicationpaths 360 from the HEU 320 to each remote unit 340. Additionaltransmission media, such as sections of optical cable, can be includedin the optical transmission paths 360. The splitter/fiber distributioncomponent 330 has least one input fiber and a plurality of outputfibers, and is capable of routing optical RF data transmissions based onat least one of signal wavelength and polarization.

The splitter/fiber distribution component 330 is also connected to aplurality ONTs 370 by cables 372. The cables 372 may be optical fibercables, and the cables 372, along with the splitter/fiber distributioncomponent 330 and the cable 335, form an optical communication path 376from the HEU 320 to each ONT 370. Each ONT 370 can be electricallyconnected to a nearby remote unit 340 by an electrically conductivecable 378 having one or more electrical conductors.

As shown in FIG. 6, a continuous optical communication path is formedfrom each ONT 370, through the splitter/fiber distribution component330, back to the patch panel 337, the HEU 320, and the OLT 326.Similarly, a continuous optical communication path is formed from eachremote unit 340, through the splitter/fiber distribution component 330,back to the patch panel 337, the HEU 320, and the OLT 326.

According to one aspect, for the ONTs 370 and remote units 340 on aparticular floor of the infrastructure, the ONT optical communicationpaths and remote unit optical communication path can run through acommon splitter component. The splitter component need not be formedfrom a single optical splitter, but can be part of a group of collocatedsplitters. A single splitter component can alternatively connect to ONTsand remote units on multiple floors, such as on adjacent floors.

The remote units 340 each include an uplink/downlink antenna system 380connected by cable 382, which can be, for example, an electricallyconductive coaxial cable. The antenna systems 380 provideuplink/downlink for RF communication, data, etc. service signals in acoverage area 390. The remote units 340 may each include anoptical-to-electrical (O/E) converter to convert received downlinkoptical RF communications signals to electrical RF communicationssignals to be communicated wirelessly through the antenna system 380 toclient devices in its respective coverage area. Similarly, the antennasystem 380 receives wireless RF communications from client devices andcommunicates electrical RF communications signals representing thewireless RF communications to an E/O converter in the remote units 340.The E/O converter converts the electrical RF communications signals intouplink optical RF communications signals to be communicated to an O/Econverter provided in the HEU 320 for further transmission by the HEU.

The ONTs 370 are effective, for example, to terminate one or more fiberoptic lines, and to demultiplex optical signals into their componentparts (e.g., voice telephone, television, and Internet).

According to one aspect, the functionalities and hardware of a remoteantenna unit and an optical network terminal are collocated, for examplein a coverage area 390, so that the ONT 370 can power a nearby RAU 340by an electrical cable. Therefore, there is no need to install acomposite cable between an interconnect unit (ICU) at an intermediatedistribution frame (IDF) and a remote unit. Power for the ONT, and thusthe corresponding RAU, can be instead be provided at the desk (POLlevel) or living unit level (FTTH MDU), for each remote unit 340, withinthe individual living unit, office, commercial space, and similarinfrastructure subdivisions. Power thus need not conveyed over longlengths of cable resulting in electrical losses.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, only a first floor 112 anda second floor 114 are illustrated. For each of the disclosedembodiments, it is to be understood that the arrangement on the secondfloor 114 may be repeated on N additional floors of the building, withthe HEU servicing multiple floors. It should be further understood thatwhile only two units (e.g., living unit, office unit, commercial unit,and other infrastructure subdivisions) with two coverage areas are shownfor the second floor 114, three, four, or more living units can beincluded in any and all of the disclosed embodiments.

According to the various embodiments as disclosed in this specification,power for DAS components can be provided ‘locally’, such as from acoverage area of a DAS component, or an adjacent subdivision of abuilding infrastructure. Long power transmission distances frominterconnect units (ICU) to DAS remote units can thus be reduced and/oreliminated. Because power need not be injected from an ICU, there isalso no need for composite cable connections from an ICU to remote unitsas fiber only cables will suffice. The integration of ONT functions withDAS components also reduces installation by eliminating the need forparallel cable and hardware infrastructures. The footprint for hardwarein IDF closets is also reduced.

In the illustrated embodiments, the wireless communication systems aredescribed as adapted to receive RF communications from RF sources suchas BTSs. Other signal sources can provide RF and other communicationdata to the illustrated wireless systems, including bidirectionalamplifiers (BDA), Femtocells, etc.

While the computer-readable medium may be as a single medium, the term“computer-readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium ormultiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/orassociated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets ofinstructions. The term “computer-readable medium” shall also be taken toinclude any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying aset of instructions for execution.

The embodiments disclosed herein may be provided as a computer programproduct, or software, that may include a machine-readable medium (orcomputer-readable medium) having stored thereon instructions, which maybe used to program a computer system (or other electronic devices) toperform a process according to the embodiments disclosed herein.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits describedin connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implementedor performed with a processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), anApplication Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field ProgrammableGate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate ortransistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combinationthereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A controllermay be a processor.

The embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in hardware and ininstructions that are stored in hardware, and may reside, for example,in Random Access Memory (RAM), flash memory, Read Only Memory (ROM),Electrically Programmable ROM (EPROM), Electrically ErasableProgrammable ROM (EEPROM), registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, aCD-ROM, or any other form of computer-readable medium known in the art.An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that theprocessor can read information from, and write information to, thestorage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integralto the processor.

The terms “fiber optic cables” and/or “optical fibers” include all typesof single mode and multi-mode light waveguides, including one or moreoptical fibers that may be upcoated, colored, buffered, ribbonizedand/or have other organizing or protective structure in a cable such asone or more tubes, strength members, jackets or the like.

The antenna arrangements may include any type of antenna desired,including but not limited to dipole, monopole, and slot antennas. Thedistributed antenna systems that employ the antenna arrangementsdisclosed herein could include any type or number of communicationsmediums, including but not limited to electrical conductors, opticalfiber, and air (i.e., wireless transmission). The distributed antennasystems may distribute and the antenna arrangements disclosed herein maybe configured to transmit and receive any type of communicationssignals, including but not limited to RF communications signals anddigital data communications signals, examples of which are described inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/892,424.

Unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that anymethod set forth herein be construed as requiring that its steps beperformed in a specific order. Accordingly, where a method claim doesnot actually recite an order to be followed by its steps or it is nototherwise specifically stated in the claims or descriptions that thesteps are to be limited to a specific order, it is no way intended thatany particular order be inferred.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit or scope of the disclosure. Since modifications combinations,sub-combinations and variations of the disclosed embodimentsincorporating the spirit and substance of the disclosure may occur topersons skilled in the art, the disclosure should be construed toinclude everything within the scope of the appended claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless communication system deployed in abuilding infrastructure, the wireless communication system comprising: ahead end unit configured to electronically receive and convert inputelectrical downlink radio frequency (RF) signals to optical downlink RFsignals to be distributed on an input fiber; an optical line terminal(OLT) configured to receive and distribute optical multiplexed datasignals on the input fiber; an optical network terminal (ONT) componentconfigured to terminate one or more fiber optic lines and demultiplexthe routed optical multiplexed data signals into component parts; aplurality of remote units each coupled to an output fiber among aplurality of output fibers and deployed over multiple floors of thebuilding infrastructure; a splitter component configured to receive androute the optical downlink RF signals and the optical multiplexed datasignals from the input fiber to the plurality of output fibers, whereinthe splitter component is collocated with at least one of the pluralityof remote units and wherein the collocated splitter component and remoteunit is connected to the ONT component via an electrical path, theelectrical path comprising one or more electrical conductors forproviding electrical power from the ONT component to the collocatedsplitter component and remote unit; a plurality of optical cablescoupling the head end unit to the plurality of remote units deployedover the multiple floors of the building infrastructure; a riser cabledeployed between the head end unit and the splitter component; aplurality of optical fiber cables connecting the splitter component tothe plurality of remote units; and a plurality of electrical powersources, one or more of the plurality of electrical power sourceslocated separately from the plurality of remote units in a respectivecoverage area of one or more of the plurality of remote units, theplurality of electrical power sources configured to provide power forthe one or more of the plurality of remote units, wherein: the head endunit is configured to: receive downlink RF signals from at least one RFsource and to provide the downlink RF signals to the plurality of remoteunits; and return uplink RF signals received from the plurality ofremote units back to the at least one RF source; and each remote unitamong the plurality of remote units is configured to: receive the routedoptical downlink RF signals and the routed optical multiplexed datasignals from the coupled output fiber among the plurality of outputfibers; convert the routed optical downlink RF signals to outputelectrical downlink RF signals; and receive power delivered from the oneor more of the plurality of electrical power sources located separatelyfrom the remote unit in a respective coverage area of the remote unit topower the remote unit; and each remote unit comprises: a remote antennaunit comprising an antenna system configured to distribute the outputelectrical downlink RF signals into the respective coverage area of theremote unit, wherein each antenna system is configured to receive uplinkRF signals from a respective coverage area.
 2. The wirelesscommunication system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communicationsystem comprises a remote unit for each of a plurality of delineatedspaces in the building infrastructure, and wherein the wirelesscommunication system comprises a plurality of electrical power sourcesnot located in any of the plurality of remote units, and wherein arespective one of the plurality of electrical power sources isassociated with each of the plurality of delineated spaces and isconfigured to deliver power to a respective remote unit in a respectiveone of the plurality of delineated spaces.
 3. The wireless communicationsystem of claim 1, wherein each remote unit includes anoptical-to-electrical converter configured to convert the receivedoptical downlink RF signals to the output electrical downlink RF signalsto be communicated wirelessly through the antenna system of the remoteunit.
 4. The wireless communication system of claim 3, furthercomprising the at least one RF source connected to the head end unit andproviding the input electrical downlink RF signals to the head end unit.5. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein at least one ofthe plurality of remote units is deployed in a ceiling of a living unit.6. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the splittercomponent is configured to route the optical downlink RF signals and theoptical multiplexed data signals based on wavelength or polarization. 7.The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofremote units includes at least five remote units.
 8. The wirelesscommunication system of claim 2, wherein the respective coverage areacorresponds to an individual delineated space of the plurality ofdelineated spaces within the building infrastructure, and wherein theone or more of the plurality of electrical power sources comprises anelectrical power source located in the individual delineated spacewithin the building infrastructure and configured to provide power forboth the remote antenna unit and the ONT component of at least one ofthe plurality of remote units over an electrically conductive networkcable connecting the one or more of the plurality of electrical powersources and the at least one of the plurality of remote units.
 9. Thewireless communication system of claim 8, wherein the at least one ofthe plurality of remote units is connected to a wall outlet located inthe individual delineated space of the building infrastructure, and theONT component and the remote antenna unit of the at least one of theplurality of remote units are configured to receive power from the walloutlet over the electrically conductive network cable.
 10. A wirelesscommunication system, comprising: a head end unit configured toelectronically receive and convert input electrical downlink radiofrequency (RF) signals to optical downlink RF signals to be distributedon an optical communication path; an optical line terminal (OLT)configured to receive and distribute optical multiplexed data signals onthe optical communication path; at least one optical network terminal(ONT) component located proximate to at least one remote antenna unitand configured to demultiplex the optical multiplexed data signals intocomponent parts; and a plurality of remote units each coupled to thehead end unit and the OLT by the optical communication path to receivethe optical downlink RF signals and the optical multiplexed data signalsfrom the head end unit and the OLT, each remote unit of the plurality ofremote units configured to receive power delivered from an electricalpower source located in a respective coverage area of one or more of theplurality of the remote units, wherein each remote unit comprises: anoptical-to-electrical converter configured to convert the receivedoptical downlink RF signals to output electrical downlink RF signals;and a remote antenna unit comprising an antenna system configured todistribute the output electrical downlink RF signals into a respectivecoverage area of the remote unit; wherein the wireless communicationsystem further comprises an electrically conductive cable connecting theat least one ONT component to at least one remote antenna unit of atleast one of the plurality of remote units, the electrically conductivecable configured to provide power from the at least one ONT component tothe at least one remote antenna unit, and wherein the head end unit isconfigured to receive input electrical downlink RF signals from at leastone RF source.
 11. The wireless communication system of claim 10,wherein the wireless communication system comprises a remote unit foreach of a plurality of delineated spaces in a building infrastructure,and wherein the wireless communication system comprises a plurality ofelectrical power sources not located in any of the plurality of remoteunits, and wherein a respective one of the plurality of electrical powersources is associated with each of the plurality of delineated spacesand is configured to deliver power to a respective remote unit in arespective one of the plurality of delineated spaces.
 12. The wirelesscommunication system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of remote unitscomprises at least five remote units deployed on multiple floors of thebuilding infrastructure, and wherein the wireless communication systemcomprises an electrical power source for each remote unit being locatedin the respective one of the plurality of delineated spaces for therespective remote unit.
 13. The wireless communication system of claim11, wherein the optical communication path comprises at least onesplitter component with at least one input fiber and a plurality ofoutput fibers, the at least one splitter component being capable ofrouting the optical downlink RF signals and the optical multiplexed datasignals based on wavelength or polarization.
 14. The wirelesscommunication system of claim 13, further comprising a plurality ofelectrically conductive cables connecting the at least one ONT componentto respective electrical power sources, whereby the at least one ONTcomponent provides power received from the respective electrical powersources to one or more of the plurality of remote units.
 15. Thewireless communication system of claim 14, wherein the opticalcommunication path includes: a riser cable deployed between the head endunit and the at least one splitter component; and a plurality of opticalfiber cables connecting the at least one splitter component to theplurality of remote units, wherein each remote unit is coupled to the atleast one splitter component by at least one optical fiber communicationpath.